Turntable



June 112, 1923.

11,458,229 M. G. HILPERT TURNTABLE Oct. 26. 1921 Filed 131' 6 MI I 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

gvvuenfoz 6H0: new

June 12 3.

1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 26 jmmem; 11923.

.M. G. HILPERT TURNTABLE Filed Ot. 26. 1921.

lAsgmz 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 une 12, 1923. V 11,458,229

M. G. HILPERT TURNTABLE Fi led Oct'. 26. 1921 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 12, l923.

itt? a ia MEIER GEORGE HILPERT, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO BETHLE- HEM STEEL COMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TURNTABLE.

Application filed October 26,1921. Serial No. 510,428.

To all whom 2'23 may concern:

Be it known that I, MEIER GEORGE HIL- PERT, a citizen of the United States, and resitype, such as shown in myv Patent No.

1,324,820 patented Aug. 3, 1920. Turntables of this type include, in general, a pair of spans, supported at their inner ends on a vertical pivot and having trucks at their outer ends running on a circular track whose center is the pivot point. For the purpose of centralizing on the pivotal support the stresses produced by the rolling stock, the

. girders constituting the spans are connected at their inner ends to a central cross girder by a hinge or flexible connection permitting a slight flexing of the spans about a transverse horizontal axis lying in or adjacent the vertical plane passing through the pivot point; the axis of fiexure, or in other words. the line of no fiexure, being located well above the lower flanges of the girder. In order to make the table a rigid structure with reference to lateral and longitudinal stresses, there is provided for each span a lateral bracing system disposed between the two girders of each span and which is rigidly connected to said central girder in a line coincident with the line of no flexure, the said lateral system being carried around the meeting ends of the spans in a plane including the line of no flexure, thus permitting a slight bending of the tab-1e about the line of no flexure, but rigidly sustaining and transmitting all lateral stresses.

In the operation of the table, lateral stresses of considerable magnitude are sometimes produced as when the motors driving the two ends of the table are unequally braked or when only one motor is being driven or when the table is provided with a motor only at one end, and since these stresses are a maximum in the center panels of the table where the spans are discontinuous, it has been found desirable to take care of these stresses by a special reinforcement. ()ne of the features of my invention resides in an improved lateral bracing system around the flexible connection which provides a deep outside truss for the two central panels on both sides of the table and extending longitudinally on both sides of the flexible connections Another feature of my invention comprises, in connection with said lateral bracing system, a centra ly disposed tower, or arch, passing over the table and providing support for the collector rings and conductors which convey power to the motors. This latter feature of my invention provides for an aerial, or overhead, system of current supply which, for

obvious reasons of safety and convenience,

is very desirable; and which furthermore, by eliminating the necessity of leading the power conductors up through the pivotal axisof the'table, inakesit possible to employ a central cross girder of very. simple and strong construction. The power-intake tower or arch is preferably supported directly on the outside lateral system and is braced transversely and longitudinally with: respect to the table by a novel system which permits the slight flexing of the table referred to above. i

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a plan view of a turntable embodying my improvements, showing the power intake arch in section; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic View, illustrating the connections between the central girder, the lateral system and the power-intake arch, and indicating the method of bracing the latter to the span girders;

Figure l is a transverse vertical section of the complete table, showing the powerintake arch in elevation;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section on a larger scale, showing the central cross girder in elevation and, also gussets of main lateral bracing system and details of supports for lateral system and arch;

' Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of Figure 5; and

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views illustrat-.

ing connections for supporting and bracing the power-intake arch. a, v I

Referringlparticularly to Figures 1 and 2,

" the turntable comprises a pair'o'f'spans, de

ignated generally by the reference letters A and B.- Each span. consists ofapair of parallel girders each comprising a pair of girder elements 1 built up structurallv in the form of an'I beam, and connected by a-trans verse bracing system, 2, adapted to sustain and transmit lateral stresses, fth'ewebsof the girder'eleinents being stifiened by inner and I outerjvertical angle pieces 3, rivetedithereto at suitable intervals. The inner ends of the girders, or spans, aretconnected to a cross girder 4, which is pivoted on a support 5 for rotation in a horizontal plane. Attacliedto the outer ends of the girders are platforms 6, on which are mounted electric motors 7 operating the" driving Wheels 8 through suitable gear and braking connect ons.

The outer ends'l of th'e girders are additionally's'up} portedi'on the circular traclr by a number of wheels arranged in tandem, all ofthe wheels being of course journaledlonaxes which con- Qverge .inthe centralpivot axis of the table.

The central girder 41-. consists of a single 1 reinforced platedisposed between the' ends. 1 of the spans and in the embodiment illustrated projectinglaj substantial distance be- .yond the sides or said spans. (SeeIFigure This girder plate, assliown in-Figure 5,

v has its lower central portion cut away to a ias indicated, very simply. Bolted to the l line which, as be pointed out presently, "is approximately coincident with the axis of fi'exure of-thetable. Riveted' on 'each side of plate 4; are upperand lower horizontal angle pieces 1'0 and vertical. angle" pieces 11,

- fthe rivetingsurfaces of the latter beingprd videdbythestiffening plates 12, Thiscon structionl provides a light butvefrystrongfl girder'and is a decided" improvement over the construction Sl'lOWIl lIl my patent, above referred to, -which construction was of necessity'builtup to provide a central" conduit for the power conductors. By providing an aerial system of current supply, I am enabled to formthe cross girder of asingle continuous plate which can be reinforced,

fi'anges of the lower angle pieces 10, is a plate 13 as which are connected the angle members constituting the inner ends of the lateral system 2, thus connecting the lat- ;eral systems lof "both spans to tjl'ie cross girderin the axis of flexur'e,;or lineof no flexure; The spans are further connected l withthecross girder by inner and outer cor- 0, her angles 14;, which are riveted to. the ends of the spang-ird'ers and, through the vertical filler members: 15, to the cross girder. As

- clearly shown in Figure 5, the vertical-filler members 15 'arein two separate sections, and

between theadjacent'ends of thesections is a horizontal filler member 16, which rests horizontal filler members.

flush against the flanges of the corner angles and the vertical edges of the span Webs. It Will be apparent inasmuch as there is no mas terial'b'etween the adj acent'iei'i'ds ofthe span girders above and below the'horizontal filler members, the spans may flex slightly under the heavy loadsimposed by the rolling-stock or due to varying elevilitions of circular track, this flexing movement taking place of said systems with the plate 13 which, as

indicated in Figure 5, lies in a plane passing through the horizontal filler nienibers' lti, about I which the spans flex, as pointed out above; In order'to extend the-lateral brace ing system around" the ends of the spans to form a deep trussflange' for tlietwo centerpaiiels of 'thetabl'e intlie plane of v i no flexu're, for sustaii'iing'and transmitting the lateral stresses and for theadditional purpose of supporting the power, intake arch, I provide the outsidelateral systei'n indicated diagrammatically in Figure 3,, and shown more incdetailinithe other'views.

This system in the embodiment of them vention illustrated, comprises angle irons 17 having their nner ends riveted to plates 18'secured to the span webs, and having; their outer ends secured to. a plate 19, wh ich isconnected to the cross girder lby means 1 of the horizontal and diagonal members 20"and21, respectively. The angle members orstruts 20, at the inner ends thereof,

have their vertical flanges" riveted directly .to theprojecting end of the cross girder and] their horizontal flanges riveted; to brackets 22' attached t'o said girder, the horizont'al' flanges of said angles ,2 0,-at the outer ends thereof, being riveted .to the plate 19. Secured between the vertical flanges of angles 20, at the outer ends there- 'of, isa plate 23, to] one side of which is bolted the lower end offthe diagonal mems ber 21,tlie upper end of said member being bolted to the-cross girder. A plate 24L is riveted to the outer flanges of angle pieces 25, whichhave their" inner flanges riveted to the vertical flanges of members 20 and also to tlie plate'23 and member 21. The frame ust describednot only provides,vin

effect a vertical stay or support for the two central lateral system panels'of the, stable y passing through the line of no fiexm ure, but also provides a suppert- "forthe power-intake arch 26, the basesof said arch being secured to the plates '24. f To give additional support to said arch, I provide the transverse brace consisting of angle pieces 27 and the longitudinally extending brace comprising angle pieces 28. The angle pieces 27 are in pairs, as clearly shown in Figure 7, and have their vertical flanges embracing the projecting end of the cross girder 4c, and riveted thereto, the outer ends of said angle pieces'being drawn together with their horizontal flanges riveted to a plate 29. Plate 29 is fastened toa vertical plate 30 by means ofan angle piece 31, and plate 30 is riveted to the channel plates of the arch. As shown in Figure 7, the plate 30 has an inwardly bentvportion at one side, to which'is fastened the outer end of the angle brace 28, the inner end thereof being fastened to a plate riveted to the under side of the top flange of the girder B. Because of the slight bending of the table about the line of no flexure, it is obvious that the arch can be braced longitudinally only on one side. I have therefore shown a brace piece 28 extending between one girder only and the arch. This, however, provides a suflicient bracing against longitudinal stresses and at the same time permits the flexing movements of the table, the arch of course moving synchronously with the movements of one span, in this case span B. I do not of course limit my invention to the specific form of arch and bracing therefor illustrated, as it is obvious that various 1nodifications therein may be made as conditions require. For example, if it is desired to have an arch braced more strongly in the plane of the tabledeck-this could be accomplished by constructing the sides of the arch in the form of an A and attaching the inclined leg of the A to suitable brackets riveted to the" webs of one of the spans.

In the broader aspect of my invention, it is not essential that the outside lateral system and arch support be connected directly with the cross girder as shown since it is obvious that substantially the same result would be effected by connecting said system and support to plates riveted on the sides of the girder webs instead of connecting them to projecting ends of the cross girder.

A consideration of the diagrammatic view, Figure 3, will make clear the essential connections described above. As plainly shown in this view, the lateral system E of the two span girders A and B connects with the cross girder 4 at a point lying in the axis passing through the filler members 16, that is, the axis of flexure, and the lateral system 1720 coplanar with E, passes around the meeting ends of the spans, or girders, and connects with the webs of the girder elements at the outer ends of the two central panels, thus providing a deep truss flange for these panels which will sustain and transmit the thrusts of driving and braking the table, while permitting the flexing of the table about the axis 16. It will further be apparent from this View how the flexing of the table prohibits the employment of brace rods 28 on both sides of the arch. hile the lateral system, constituted by the inside system E and the outside systeml't'f20, is shown disposed in a horizontal plane, it is to be un derstood that said system might be in any plane or combination of planes tranverse to the spans providing it passes through the line of no flexure in connecting to and thus passing through the center cross girder.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the table is provided with track rails 40 supported by cross ties ll laid on the upper flanges of the girder elements, and with walkways 42 at the sides of the track. The usual hand rails 43 may be supported slidably in the arch, as indicated in this View, thus dispensing with posts at these points. A collector 44 is disposed at the top of the arch in vertical alignment with the pivotal axis of the table, and the current iscollected through this connection and led to the motors at the two ends of the table by insulated conducltors passing down and supported by the are 1.

I have referred above to an inside lateral system and an outside lateral system, but as a matter of fact there is only one lateral which is widened at'the two center panels for the purpose of sustaining and transmitting all resultant lateralforces to the collar which surrounds the fixed base casting. The members 2, Figure 1, while a part of the lateral system,ras web members, are more especially lateral thrust or tension members transmitting to the center-fixed base casting the traction force of the engine, coming through the deck to the span and through the webs of the span girders to the members 2. It will be understood that the end trucks can take no lateral forces, nor engine traction or braking forces, hence the lateral system must take all such forces and transmit them to the center fixed casting.

WVhile I have described with particularity a structure embodying my invention, I do not intend thereby to limit the invention to tween the ends of said spans, projecting on both sides thereof and flexibly connected therewith about an axis transverse of said spans, said spans each being provided with an inside lateral bracing system connected with said cross girder in a plane including said axis, an outside lateral bracing system connected with each of the projecting ends 3 comprisingtwo spans, across Qgi-rder of said cross girder'in a plane containing said axis and prov1d1ng, in effect, a continuous' horizontal wide truss system extending on both sides and along the centralgportion with each of the projecting ends of said cross girder in a plane containing said axis and consisting of a systemof transverse and longitudinally extending members connected with, the projecting end" of said :cross girder and with the spans at the o'uterends of the central panels. i

' 8. A turntable of the multiple-span type,

comprising two spans, a cross girder be- 7 tween the ends of said spans, projecting on both sides thereof and flexibly, connected therewith about a transverse axis, and a lateral bracing system connected with each of the projecting ends of said cross girder in a planecontaining the axis offiexure.

' 4;. A turntable of themultiple-span type, comprising two spans,a cross girder composed of a single reinforced plate between the ends of saidspans, projecting on both sides thereof "and flexibly connected therewith about a transverse:axislying well-above the. lower flanges of said spans,.a lateral bracing system connected with the pro ecting ends of. said {cross girder at the axis of flexure and forming, in effect, a wide lateral truss for the two-center lpanelsof. the

table, and. a power-intakes-a rch supported on said lateral system.

5. A turntableof the multiple-span-type, comprising two. spans, a crossgirder. composed of a single. reinforced plate between the ends of saidspans, projecting on both sides thereof and flexiblyconnected therewith about' a transverse axis lying substantially in the vertical plane including the pivot point of the table andwell above the lower flanges of said spans, said spans each including a lateral bracing systemconnected with said cross girder. in a. plane including the axis of flexure, and having exterior extensions of said lateral system connected withthe projecting ends of said cross girder in said last mentioned plane and a powerintake arch supported on said lateral system.

6, turntable of the multiple-span type comprising. two spans, electric motors disposedat the outer ends of said spansfor operating the table, a central cross girdercomposed of asin'gle reinforced plate between :the' ends of said spans, projecting on both sides thereof and fiexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis lying substantially in the vertical plane; including the pivot point of theta-ble, each of said spans including a lateral bracing 'system connected with said cross girder in a. plane including the axis of flexure, and exteriorly connect.-

-.versebraces connecting thev sides of said arch with said cross girderand longitudinal bracesconneicting. said sides with one ofxsaid spans; i

8. A turntabletof the multiple-span" type, comprising two spans flexibly connected about an axis adjacent the transverse vertical plane including the pivot axis. of the table, a lateral. bracing system passing aroundthe adjacent-ends of saidspans in line with the axis of'fiexure, and a power.- intake arch supported by said. lateralbracing system. i

. 9. A turntable'rof the multiple-span type, comprising two. spans flexibly connected about an axis adjacent thetransverse vertical plane including the pivot. axis of the table, a lateral-bracing system passing around the meet-ingends of said spans in a plane including-the axisof flexure, andextending throughout the two center panels of the; table, and a-power-intake arch supported by said lateral bracing system.

10. A1 turntable of1the multiple-span; type, comprising twov spans flexibly connected about atransverse axis lying/adjacent the transverse. vertical plane passing through the pivot point of the table, a: lateral bracing system passing around the adjacent ends of said spans and including the axis of flexure, a ipower intake arch supported by said .lateralbracing systemv and a longitudinal brace connecting sald'arch with one of said central cross girderbetween the ends of said spans, meanssecuring said spans to said cross. girder for flexing movement about a transverse axis, said spans each having a arch supported on said lateral bracing syslateral bracing system, connected to said cross girder at subtsantially the same elevation as the said axis, horizontal struts projecting from opposite ends of the cross girder at substantially the same elevation as the said axis, and brace members extending from the ends of said struts to the spans.

13. A turntable construction including in combination opposite span sections flexibly connected, and outside lateral reinforcements in a substantially horizontal plane comprising struts projecting from opposite sides of the turntable substantially in alignment with the axis of the flexible connection and members extending from the ends of the struts to the sections and connected to the latter at points removed from said axis.

14. A turntable construction including in combination opposite span sections flexibly connected, and outside lateral reinforcements comprising struts projecting from opposite sides of the turntable substantially in alignment with the axis of the flexible connection and members extending from the ends of the struts to. the sections and connected to the latter at points removed from said axis.

15. A turntable of the multiple-span type, comprising two spans, a cross girder between the ends of said spans and flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis, said spans each being provided with a-lateral bracing system connected with said cross girder in a plane including said axis, and an exterior portion of said lateral bracing system connected with said crossgirder also in a plane including said axis and consisting of a system of transverse and longitudinally extending members connected with the projecting end of said cross girder and with the spans at the outer ends of the central panels.

16. A turntable of the multiple-span type, comprising two spans, a cross girder between the ends of said spans and flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis, a lateral bracing system connected with said cross girder in a line substantially coincident with the axis of fiexure, and a power-intake tem.

17 A turntable of the multiple-span type comprising two spans, a cross girder composed of a single reinforced plate between the ends of said spans and flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis lying well above the lower flanges of said spans, a lateral bracing system connected with said cross girder at the axis of flexure and forming, in efi'ect, a wide truss for the two center panels of the table, and a power-intake arch supported on said lateral bracing system.

18. A turntable of the multiple-span type, comprising two spans, a cross girder between the ends of said spans flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis, a lateral bracing system connected interiorly to said cross girder in a plane including the axis of flexure and extending exteriorly on both sides of said spans, a power-intake arch supported on the exterior extensions of said lateral bracing system, and operating means for said table including an electric motor for driving the outer end of one of said spans.

19. A turntable of the multiple-span type,

comprising two spans, a cross girder between the ends of said spans flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis, a lateral bracing system connected interiorly to said cross girder in a plane including the axis of flexure and extending exteriorly on both sides of said spans, operating means for said table including a motor mounted adjacent the outer end of one of said spans, and an aerial system of current supply for said motor.

20. A turntable of the multiple span type, comprising two spans, a cross girder between the ends of said spans flexibly connected therewith about a transverse axis, a lateral bracing system connected to said cross girder in a plane including the axis of flexure, operating means for said table including an electric motor, and an aerial system of current supply for said motor.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

MEIER GEORGE HILPERT. 

